The 2023 MLB Draft is just hours away, and teams are scrambling to finalize their draft boards. In an effort to provide the latest information, our team worked late into the night to project how the first round of the draft will unfold on Sunday. While there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding the draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates will kick things off with the first overall pick shortly after 7 p.m. ET. The draft will be televised live on both MLB Network and ESPN.
With the anticipation building, here are our projections for the top picks in the first round:
1. Pittsburgh Pirates: Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida (No. 3)
2. Washington Nationals: Paul Skenes, RHP, Louisiana State (No. 1)
3. Detroit Tigers: Dylan Crews, OF, Louisiana State (No. 2)
4. Texas Rangers: Max Clark, OF, Franklin (Ind.) HS (No. 5)
5. Minnesota Twins: Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick HS, Southport, N.C. (No. 4)
The draft projections continue with the Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, and Miami Marlins rounding out the top 10 picks.
As the draft progresses, teams will be looking to secure promising talent to strengthen their organizations. The Los Angeles Angels, Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago White Sox will all have opportunities to capitalize on valuable picks in the middle of the first round.
The later picks in the first round provide ample opportunities for teams to find hidden gems and future stars. The Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays, and Toronto Blue Jays are among the teams that will have the chance to make impactful selections.
In addition to the first round projections, there are a few bonus picks to be awarded. The Seattle Mariners will receive an extra pick in the first round for Julio Rodríguez winning Most Valuable Player. They are projected to select Thomas White, a left-handed pitcher from Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass.
The Mariners will also have a pick in the Competitive Balance Round A. Ralphy Velazquez, a catcher/first baseman from Huntington Beach High School in California, is projected to be their selection.
As the countdown to the 2023 MLB Draft continues, anticipation is building among fans and teams alike. The draft holds the promise of a bright future for the young players who will have their dreams realized as they are selected by teams looking to build championship-caliber organizations. Stay tuned to see how it all unfolds on draft day.